New Heritage Award 2020
Sustainable furniture for a more beautiful world. In a world of machine made artefacts we believe in the value of things that look and feel like they were made by hand. We use locally grown sustainable hardwoods from people we know and trust. Often these are small trees which are being coppiced as part of an ancient woodland management practice which actively promotes biodiversity. Our furniture and products are made to exacting standards, and are made to last for generations.
Furniture, lighting, outdoor furniture, commissions, courses
Peter Lanyon heads up a small team of highly skilled and experienced green wood furniture makers. From our south Devon base, we hand-craft stunning lamps, tables, chairs and desks using a ‘slow’ and sustainable methodology that relies on low energy and simple technology – a refreshing change to otherwise fast-paced, mass-produced furniture. We regularly exhibit work in London and across the UK. Peter is available for commissions, and runs popular woodworking courses at his workshop – just a short stroll from the stunning south Devon coastline. Peter is also an award-winning member of the Devon Guild, an organisation that supports contemporary crafts.
Each of our iconic pieces begin the same way. We hand-select coppiced wood from a well-managed local forest on the south Devon coast. We then use ancient methods to split and shave the wood with traditional tools such as a side axe, froe and draw knife, before leaving it to season for several months. Peter’s philosophy and approach to woodworking is simple: wood should look and feel like wood. Every curve and kink, every knot and undulation is a celebration of life. So, when the wood is ready, Peter sets to work on the piece, allowing it to tell its own story and composing it into its finished form. There are no flat sides, straight edges or wood sanded against the grain. Instead, the tool marks add to the raw, tactile finish, bringing out the beauty of the grain and creating a playful contrast of light and shadow. Every piece of furniture is part of a bigger story, a talking point and a gentle reminder of the need to preserve the beauty of the natural world.
Coppicing is a traditional woodland management practice that preserves bio-diversity. It involves felling young trees to open up the canopy, while preserving the root system. New shoots soon sprout from the stump, and the cycle is repeated every 30 years or so. Our work is simply an extension of this sustainable, natural approach – and a way of highlighting the essence and elegance of the original tree.
Peter’s lamps are like a work of art that also lights the space, it’s a fascinating concept , finely crafted by someone who plainly loves what he makes. An amazing addition to our space.
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